Integral and coaxial drive assembly for crane wheels



y 24, 1965 A. v. KORE ETAL 3,252,586

INTEGRAL AND COAXIAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE WHEELS Filed Jan. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l \NUENTOQS l7. 1/. Ka/EE D. E. HOLT ATTOENEY y 1966 A. v. KORE ETAL 3,252,586

INTEGRAL AND COAXIAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE WHEELS Filed Jan. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT' TOENEI A. v. KORE ETAL 3,252,586

9 May 24, 1966 INTEGRAL AND COAXIAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE WHEELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21, 1965 INUENTORS D. E. H047 3% AT'ronNif May 24, 1966 A. v. KORE ETAL INTEGRAL AND COAXIAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE WHEELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 21, 1965 A'r-roeNz-w INTEGRAL AND COAXIAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE WHEELS Alexander V. Kore, West Allis, and Douglas E. Holt, Mequon, Wis., assignors to Harnischfeger Corporation, West Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,863 9 Claims. (Cl. 212-124) The present invention relates generally to cranes and more particularly to an integral and coaxial drive assem bly for one or more of the wheels of such a crane and to the construction of the crane which facilitates removal of the wheel and drive assembly from the crane.

In prior art integral drive assemblies, considerable difficulty has been experienced in removing the wheel and/ or these units and wheels are of considerable weight, usually located at some height above the ground where it is awkward to work on them and must be replaced or repaired from time to time. Special handling equipment has often sembly can simply be detached by removing some bolt means and then simply rolled along the track on which it was located and out from its operating position under the crane. There is no need for special hoists or other handling equipment in order to remove or replace an in- ,tegral and coaxial drive assembly as provided by the present invention.

These and other objects and advantages of the present .invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an overhead crane em bodying the present invention, certain parts being shown as broken away or removed for clarity in the drawings;

FIGURE 2 is a partial side elevational view of the crane as shown in FIGURE 1, certain parts shown as being broken away or in section for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the crane shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, but on an enlarged scale and showing certain parts as broken away, in section, or removed, the view taken generally from line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken generally from line 44 in FIGURE 3, certain parts being removed to show only the end of the end truck frame;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, exploded view showing one of the end trucks disconnected from one of the girders, certain parts shown as being broken away, in section, or removed;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, elevational view of one end of the crane and showing the end truck connected to the girder, but on an enlarged scale from FIGURE 5, FIGURE 6 being a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 1 but on an enlarged scale from that of FIG- 'URE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view through one of the girders and taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of one end of an end truck, the view being taken from line 88 in FIGURE 6, and certain parts being shown as broken away or in section for clarity;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in FIGURE 8;

United States Patent 0 its drive unit from the frame of the crane. That is to say,

ice

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, longitudinal view, partially in section, and with certain parts removed or broken away, of the integral and coaxial drive assembly made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, the crane shown for purposes of illustrating the invention includes a pair of girders 1 and 2 arranged in parallelism and rigidly secured together at their ends by the end tnlcks 3 and 4. A conventional trolley T rides across the crane on trolley rails 5 and 6. The crane itself rides on the crane rails 7 and 8 in a direction normal to trolley movement. Rails 7 and 8 are mounted on any suitable structure, such as structural members 9 and 10 which 'may be part of a superstructure framework or building (not shown). In any event, the crane is usually located a distance above the ground.

The girders 1 and 2, an enlarged cross section of which is shown in FIGURE 7, are fully described in our copending United States application, Serial No. 427,224, filed January 22, 1965, entitled, Overhead Crane and Girder Therefor, and if a complete description of their structure, characteristics, and advantages is deemed to be either necessary or desirable, reference may be had to that application. It is believed sufiicient to say for the purposes of this disclosure that these girders are fabricated from metal and have opposite end portions, as shown in FIGURES 2, 5, and 6, which are of reduced height. These end portions have bearing surfaces 15, 16, and 17 adjacent which complementary surfaces 18, 19, and 20, respectively, of the end trucks 3 and 4 abut and are rigidly fastened thereto by any suitable means such aswelding, or by the bolt means 21 Which extend through aligned holes 22 in the said mating surfaces.

Thus, the girders and end trucks form a rigid frame which is of rectangular shape in plan as viewed in FIG- URE 1 and is adapted to normally move back and forth, as indicated by the double headed arrow, along the rails 7 and 8 by means of its.wheels 28, one located at each corner of the crane.

The wheels 28 are mounted in the ends of the end trucks 3 and 4 as follows. The ends of the end trucks are formed with open ends which face in the direction of normal crane travel above mentioned. These open ends are formed by the generally horizontal, overhang surface 25 (FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9) and a downwardly extending back surface 26. The axles 27 of the wheels 28 are mounted by antifriction bearing means 29, 30 in the axle brackets 31 and 32, respectively. These right-angle brackets 31, 32 are in turn detachably secured by bolt means 33 to the frame surface 25 and 26. Thus, the wheels may be removed from the frame by removing bolt means 33.

At least some of the wheels are equipped with an integral and coaxially arranged drive assembly DA which is shown in FIGURE 1 as being connected to the two wheels, one at each of the opposite ends of girder 1. Any number or arrangement of these drive assemblies may be used, for example, on two diagonally opposed wheels, on all four wheels, or on the two wheels at the same end of the crane. In any event, the set-up is the same for each wheel where it is desired to use the invention, and only one will now be described.

Adjacent each wheel which is to be equipped with such a drive assembly, the end truck has a plate 35 (FIGURES 3, 8, 9, and 11) which extends in a front and rear direction in respect to crane movement so as to form a laterally offset surface 36 (FIGURE 11). That is to say, a vertical and longitudinally extending (in the direction of crane movement) mounting surface is provided in a laterally inward position of the wheel.

The drive wheel assembly DA includes a housing H having a vertical flange 37 (FIGURES 8 and 11) which abuts against surface 36 and is detachably secured to plate 35 by bolt means 38.

The assembly includes an electric motor 40, brake 41, planetary gear reduction unit 42. The gear unit 42 connects the motor shaft 43 with an internally splined hub 44 of the assembly. The hub 44 is in coaxial alignment with the motor 40, gear unit 42, shaft 43, and the wheel shaft 27. The hub 44 has a larger annular ring 45 integral therewith and which has an internal ring gear 46 driven by the planetary gears 47 of the reduction unit.

A seal 48 is provided between the external shoulder 49 of the cover 50 of bracket 32 and the internal cylindrical surface 51 of the plate member 37.

With the above construction, the entire wheel drive assembly, including the wheels 28 and the housing H and contents, can be quickly removed from the end truck. It is only necessary to block up that corner of the crane and then remove bolt means 33 and 38. The entire assembly then need not be lifted but instead can be simply rolled out from under the crane on the rail 7 .to a position indicated by the dotted line showing in FIGURE 1. In doing so, the plate 37 slides past and clear of plate 35 because both plates extend in the direction of crane movement as does the upper surface 25 which permits the assembly to clear the end truck without repositioning of any of the parts.

After the entire assembly and wheel have been removed, the motor and gear reduction can be separated from the Wheel by sliding them axially relative to the wheel axle 27. In doing so, the hub 44 slides off the axle, and plate 37 slides off seal 48 Alternatively, the motor and reduction unit can be removed from the end truck frame by removing bolts 38, and the wheel can be left in position on the end truck.

If the entire assembly has been removed and it is then to be reassembled on the end truck, it can be readily aligned in position, the laterally abutting plate means 35, 37 insuring proper lateral alignment, and the downwardly extending back surface 26 acting as a guide stop to insure alignment in the longitudinal direction, that is, in the direction of crane movement.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming thesubject matter which is regarded as the invention:

We claim:

1. An overhead crane of the type having a frame and a plurality of wheel means mounted thereon which are adapted to ride on a pair of spaced apart rails, said frame having an open end facing in the direction of normal crane movement, said open end defined by a generally horizontal overhang surface and a downwardly extending back surface, at least one of said wheel means comprising an integral wheel and drive assembly adapted to be detachably secured as a unit to said frame surfaces, said drive and wheel being in co-axial alignment, said assembly having mating means for engagement with said surfaces whereby said assembly can be moved horizontally along said rail and into and out of said open end for attachment to and detachment from said frame, and

means for detachably securing said assembly to said surfaces.

2. The crane as defined in claim 1 including laterally abutting means on said assembly and said frame for accurately positioning of said assembly to said frame in a direction transverse to said crane movement, said abutting means being positioned so that they can move relative to one another in the direction of crane movement to permit said assembly movement horizontally out of said open end, and means for rigidly and detachably securing said abutting means together.

3. An overhead crane of the type having a frame and a plurality of wheel means mounted thereon which are .adapted to ride on ,a pair o f spaced apart rails, said frame having an open end facing in the direction of normal crane movement, said open end defined by a generally horizontal overhang surface and a downwardly extending back surface, at least one of said wheel means comprising an integral wheel and drive assembly adapted to be detachably secured to said frame surfaces, said assembly including an electric motor and gear reduction unit which are coaxially aligned with its associated wheel, said wheel having a shaft extending therefrom, said gear reduction unit having coupling means for axial slidable engagement With said extending shaft, said assembly having mating means for engagement with said surfaces whereby said assembly can be moved horizontally along said rail and into and out of said open end for attachment to and detachment from said frame, laterally abutting means on said assembly and said frame for accurately positioning of said assembly to said frame in a direction transverse to said crane movement, means for detachably securing said assembly to said surfaces, and second means for detachably securing said abutting means together.

4. A crane as defined in claim 3 further characterized in that said reduction unit coupling means is located adjacent said abutting means whereby separation between said wheel shaft and said gear reduction unit occurs adjacent said abutting means when the latter are detached from one another.

5. In combination with an overhead crane having mounting surfaces, an integral and coaxial drive assembly comprising, a drive wheel having a shaft extending therefrom, detachable mounting means to mount the shaft on said surfaces, a housing having mounted therein anel'ectric motor and a gear reduction unit coaxially arranged with and connected to said motor, said reduction unit also being in axial alignment with said shaft and secured therewith, and detachable abutting means on said housing and adapted to be attached to said crane to permit said housing and wheel to be removed as a unit from said crane when said detachable mounting means for said wheel shaft is detached. 4 V

6. An assembly as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that said shaft and reduction unit have axially interengaging means to permit axial disengagement and engagement therebetween when said detachable abutting means is detached from said crane.

7. An overhead crane of the type having a frame and a plurality of wheel means mounted thereon which are adapted to ride on a pair of spaced apart rails, said frame having an open end facing in the direction of normal crane movement, said open end defined by a generally horizontal overhang surface and a downwardly extending back surface, at least one of said wheel means comprising an integral Wheel and drive assembly adapted to be detachably secured to said frame surfaces, said assembly having mating means for engagement with said surfaces whereby said assembly can be moved horizontally along said rail and into and out of said open end for attachment to and detachment from said frame, and means for detachably securing said assembly to said surfaces; said assembly comprising, a drive wheel having a shaftextending therefrom, a housing having'mounted therein an electric motor and a gear reduction unit coaxially arranged with and connected to said motor, said reduction unit also being in axial alignment with said shaft and secured therewith.

8. An assembly as defined in claim 7 including detachable laterally abutting means between said housing and crane to permit said housing and wheel to be removed as a unit from said crane when said mating means are detached from said surfaces.

9. An assembly as defined in claim 7 further characterized in that said shaft and reduction unit have axially interengaging' means to permit axial disengagement and engagement therebetween when said detachable abutting means is detached from said crane. 7

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 166,823 4/ 1959 Sweden.

970,572 9/1910 Taylor 105-163 1 927 932 Heinle 105 1 3 5 EVON C- BLUNK, Prlmary Exammer- 3,081,883 3/ 1963 Minty 212-15 X A. LEVINE, Assistant Examiner.

3,164,105 1/1965 Erlbacher 21213 X 

1. AN OVERHEAD CRANE OF THE TYPE HAVING A FRAME AND A PLURALITY OF WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED THEREON WHICH ARE ADAPTED TO RIDE ON A PAIR OF SPACED APART RAILS, SAID FRAME HAVING AN OPEN END FACING IN THE DIRECTION OF NORMAL CRANE MOVEMENT, SAID OPEN END DEFINED BY A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL OVERHANG SURFACE AND A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING BACK SURFACE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID WHEEL MEANS COMPRISING AN INTEGRAL WHEEL AND DRIVE ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE DETACHABLY SECURED AS A UNIT TO SAID FRAME SURFACES, SAID DRIVE AND WHEEL BEING IN CO-AXIAL ALIGNMENT, SAID ASSEMBLY HAVING MATING MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SURFACES WHEREBY SAID ASSEMBLY CAN BE MOVED HORIZONTALLY ALONG SAID RAIL AND INTO AND OUT OF SAID OPEN END FOR ATTACHMENT TO AND DETACHMENT FROM SAID FRAME, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID ASSEMBLY TO SAID SURFACES. 